There was a time when "latte-drinking" was a dismissive synonym for an out-of-touch urban elite, when Starbucks was virtually alone among the fast food giants in obsessing over new espresso-based inventions.

Those times are long gone. Now, latte culture is so mainstream that Starbucks gets dragged into the culture wars for insufficiently Christian-themed Christmas cups, McDonald's has a $4 billion a year coffee business, and Dunkin' Donuts is launching a macchiato. Everyone wants a piece of the coffee business now — and Starbucks needs to think hard about how to preserve its position as king of the mountain.

The question is an urgent one, because as competitors get better at making passably-good espresso drinks, Starbucks, while still growing, has missed its US sales targets for several quarters in a row. As the coffee wars heat up, some customers think Starbucks has lost its luster — and some of its own employees say its standards are slipping.

Starbucks thinks the answer to all this is a concept called "Reserve," the brand name for what will essentially be a fancier version of Starbucks.

At Reserve cafes, customers will be prodded to experience all the minutiae about roasting, brewing, and sipping coffee. At its high-end, a 12 oz. cup of siphon-brewed Reserve coffee costs $10, and can take ten minutes to brew. It's a pricey, mellowed out alternative to coffee as just another kind of fast food: the mundane experience of ordering latte at the drive-thru and leaving as quickly as possible.

The Reserve brand will appear in the wild in three ways. There will be large Reserve Roasteries, high-end cafes with coffee beans being roasted on site. There will be Reserve stores, which will have their own logo and won't brew regular Starbucks coffee. And there will be Reserve bars that will be built inside existing Starbucks locations.

For most of us, those Reserve bars will be the most visible part of the new brand, with Starbucks planning to put them in 20% of its cafes in the next five years.

A Reserve bar at an LA Starbucks

Matt Glac / Via Starbucks

I visited one of the new Reserve bars in a New York Starbucks. The cheapest options were pour-over coffee and coffee brewed using Starbucks' Clover machine, both $2.95. But taking a recommendation from the cashier (you order Reserve drinks at the regular counter with all the other customers) I opted for a latte with Nicaragua La Roca beans.

"Is it more expensive than a regular latte?" I asked. "Yes, but only by like $0.50," he replied. The order went through, and I headed a few feet over to the Reserve bar, a counter with stools facing the prep area so you could sit and watch your drink being made. The barista called my name, and handed over my latte in a disposable, black Reserve cup. He didn't initiate a conversation about the coffee, which was fine, because the reality was I didn't really have time anyway.

Did it taste better than a regular latte? I believe it did, but, I was thinking a lot harder about it than I normally ever would. The whole transaction, it felt like a normal Starbucks experience, but 20% nicer.

Nicer and more expensive sits nicely with Wall Street. "We are optimistic on [Starbucks'] premiumization strategy to continue to build a moat around the brand," wrote analysts at Cowen and Company, "as well as potential learnings to be derived for core retail stores."

Reserve launched in 2010 as a line of single-origin coffee beans sold by Starbucks. But in the ever escalating coffee wars, offering a higher-end bean is nothing special. The company's solution was to rethink its retail experience, which would be harder to replicate, especially at the scale Starbucks operates at.

It's a huge task, and will be led by the man who ran Starbucks as it defined the first wave of the global espresso craze. Starbucks chief Howard Schultz, who first took the top job at the company three decades ago, will focus exclusively on the Reserve brand after he steps down as CEO next year.

The first Reserve Roastery opened in Seattle in late 2014, and it's a theatrical coffee-themed playland where expensive single-origin beans get roasted, rocketed through tubes along the ceiling into displays cases, and brewed using methods that lack the speed and convenience of a good old auto-drip coffeemaker, but pack a lot more romance.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle

Jason Redmond / Reuters

Baristas are trained to tell customers all about their cup of coffee, if they want. It's a service that has Schultz's fingerprints all over it — in the past, the CEO has encouraged his baristas to talk to customers about everything from their drinks to politics. All this entertainment costs more too. "The coffee is priced closer to cocktails," one reviewer wrote on Yelp.

It's is very much the corporate response to the obsession with artisanal products that has penetrated so many aspects of our lives. People say they want to know more about what they're eating, and to eat things that were made with care, and the world of coffee has become overrun with cafes and chains that treat the product like a combination of fine wine, gourmet food and sacred ritual. Starbucks is playing catchup, but doing it on a scale no other coffee business can approach.

Starbucks plans to open about 20 Reserve Roasteries, in major cities across the country. One tier down from the Reserve Roasteries will be dedicated Reserve cafes, and Starbucks plans to open 1,000 of them. Then there's the Reserve bars inside Starbucks stores: the company plans to open 4,800 of them by 2021.

Is this what coffee drinkers want? Starbucks says it is encouraged by the results so far, calling the Seattle Roastery "the most successful store opening in the company’s history."

]]>Venessa Wonghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/venessawong/the-slower-more-expensive-future-of-starbucksFri, 09 Dec 2016 21:01:03 -0500Are we approaching Peak Coffee? As everyone from the gas station to the burger joint rush to improve their coffee game, Starbucks is aiming for a new kind of market.venessawongnonadult
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/7/13/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane03/sub-buzz-10269-1481136893-4.jpg?resize=720:479" width="720" height="479" alt="" /></p>
<p><small>Barbara Kinney / Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://Starbucks.com">Starbucks.com</a></small></p>
<p>There was a time when "latte-drinking" was a dismissive synonym for an out-of-touch urban elite, when Starbucks was virtually alone among the fast food giants in obsessing over new espresso-based inventions.</p><p>Those times are long gone. Now, latte culture is so mainstream that Starbucks gets dragged into the culture wars for <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/a-very-starbucks-christmas">insufficiently Christian-themed</a> Christmas cups, McDonald&#39;s has a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-05/mcdonald-s-revamps-4-billion-mccafe-brand-as-it-lags-starbucks?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;utm_content=business&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social">$4 billion a year</a> coffee business, and Dunkin&#39; Donuts is launching a macchiato. Everyone wants a piece of the coffee business now &mdash; and Starbucks needs to think hard about how to preserve its position as king of the mountain.</p><p>The question is an urgent one, because as competitors get better at making passably-good espresso drinks, Starbucks, while still growing, has missed its US sales targets for several quarters in a row. As the coffee wars heat up, some customers think Starbucks has lost its luster &mdash; and some of its own employees say <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/venessawong/heres-why-lines-have-grown-so-long-at-starbucks?utm_term=.viZM83Vgv#.doB91Y2w7">its standards are slipping</a>.</p>
<p>Starbucks thinks the answer to all this is a concept called "Reserve," the brand name for what will essentially be a fancier version of Starbucks.</p><p>At Reserve cafes, customers will be prodded to experience all the minutiae about roasting, brewing, and sipping coffee. At its high-end, a 12 oz. cup of siphon-brewed Reserve coffee costs $10, and can take ten minutes to brew. It&#39;s a pricey, mellowed out alternative to coffee as just another kind of fast food: the mundane experience of ordering latte at the drive-thru and leaving as quickly as possible.<br /></p><p>The Reserve brand will appear in the wild in three ways. There will be large Reserve Roasteries, high-end cafes with coffee beans being roasted on site. There will be Reserve stores, which will have their own logo and won&#39;t brew regular Starbucks coffee. And there will be Reserve bars that will be built inside existing Starbucks locations.</p><p>For most of us, those Reserve bars will be the most visible part of the new brand, with Starbucks planning to put them in 20% of its cafes in the next five years.</p>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/7/16/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane03/sub-buzz-28030-1481147599-8.jpg?resize=720:480" width="720" height="480" alt="" /></p>
<p>A Reserve bar at an LA Starbucks</p>
<p><small>Matt Glac / Via Starbucks</small></p>
<p>I visited one of the new Reserve bars in a New York Starbucks. The cheapest options were pour-over coffee and coffee brewed using Starbucks&#39; Clover machine, both $2.95. But taking a recommendation from the cashier (you order Reserve drinks at the regular counter with all the other customers) I opted for a latte with Nicaragua La Roca beans.</p><p>"Is it more expensive than a regular latte?" I asked. "Yes, but only by like $0.50," he replied. The order went through, and I headed a few feet over to the Reserve bar, a counter with stools facing the prep area so you could sit and watch your drink being made. The barista called my name, and handed over my latte in a disposable, black Reserve cup. He didn&#39;t initiate a conversation about the coffee, which was fine, because the reality was I didn&#39;t really have time anyway.</p><p>Did it taste better than a regular latte? I believe it did, but, I was thinking a lot harder about it than I normally ever would. The whole transaction, it felt like a normal Starbucks experience, but 20% nicer.<br /></p><p>Nicer and more expensive sits nicely with Wall Street. "We are optimistic on [Starbucks&#39;] premiumization strategy to continue to build a moat around the brand," wrote analysts at Cowen and Company, "as well as potential learnings to be derived for core retail stores."</p><p>Reserve launched in 2010 as a line of single-origin coffee beans sold by Starbucks. But in the ever escalating coffee wars, offering a higher-end bean is nothing special. The company&#39;s solution was to rethink its retail experience, which would be harder to replicate, especially at the scale Starbucks operates at.<br /></p><p>It&#39;s a huge task, and will be led by the man who ran Starbucks as it defined the first wave of the global espresso craze. Starbucks chief Howard Schultz, who first took the top job at the company three decades ago, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/leticiamiranda/starbucks-ceo-stepping-down">will focus exclusively</a> on the Reserve brand after he steps down as CEO next year.</p><p>The first Reserve Roastery opened in Seattle in late 2014, and it&#39;s a theatrical coffee-themed playland where expensive single-origin beans get roasted, rocketed through tubes along the ceiling into displays cases, and brewed using methods that lack the speed and convenience of a good old auto-drip coffeemaker, but pack a lot more romance.</p>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/9/15/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane01/sub-buzz-28814-1481314065-11.jpg?resize=625:425" width="625" height="425" alt="" /></p>
<p>The Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle</p>
<p><small>Jason Redmond / Reuters</small></p>
<p>Baristas are trained to tell customers all about their cup of coffee, if they want. It&#39;s a service that has Schultz&#39;s fingerprints all over it &mdash; in the past, the CEO has encouraged his baristas to talk to customers about everything from their drinks to politics. All this entertainment costs more too. "The coffee is priced closer to cocktails," one reviewer wrote on Yelp.</p><p>It&#39;s is very much the corporate response to the obsession with artisanal products that has penetrated so many aspects of our lives. People say they want to know more about what they&#39;re eating, and to eat things that were made with care, and the world of coffee has become overrun with cafes and chains that treat the product like a combination of fine wine, gourmet food and sacred ritual. Starbucks is playing catchup, but doing it on a scale no other coffee business can approach.</p><p>Starbucks plans to open about 20 Reserve Roasteries, in major cities across the country. One tier down from the Reserve Roasteries will be dedicated Reserve cafes, and Starbucks plans to open 1,000 of them. Then there&#39;s the Reserve bars inside Starbucks stores: the company plans to open 4,800 of them by 2021.</p><p>Is this what coffee drinkers want? Starbucks says it is encouraged by the results so far, calling the Seattle Roastery "the most successful store opening in the company&rsquo;s history."</p>
<p><small></small></p>
nonadultnonadultStarbuck's new Reserve retail concept includes standalone roastery-cafes (left) and small Reserve coffee bars inside Starbucks stores (right).nonadultA Reserve bar at an LA StarbucksnonadultDo You Celebrate Christmas Like Everyone Else?https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/do-you-celebrate-christmas-like-everyone-else?utm_term=4ldqpia
One person’s tradition might be another person’s big NO.

]]>Brian Galindohttps://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/do-you-celebrate-christmas-like-everyone-elseFri, 09 Dec 2016 20:46:04 -0500One person's tradition might be another person's big NO.briangalindononadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultChris Pratt Keyed A Cop Car While The Cop Was Still Insidehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/whitneyjefferson/chris-pratt-too-much-tuna?utm_term=4ldqpia
He told the story at “Oh, Hello” on broadway.

This is Chris Pratt.

Francois Guillot / AFP / Getty Images

And this is George St. Geegland and Gil Faizon, two long-time residents of the Upper West Side and experts of the theater.

Chris appeared on Gil and George's hit "Br'dway" show "Oh, Hello" last night, and we've got the exclusive video of it!

George asked Chris, since he was such a nice guy, if he ever had a period in his life where he wasn't.

]]>Whitney Jeffersonhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/whitneyjefferson/chris-pratt-too-much-tunaFri, 09 Dec 2016 20:31:04 -0500He told the story at "Oh, Hello" on broadway.whitneyjeffersonnonadultnonadult(Also known as John Mulaney and Nick Kroll.)nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultAnd check out <i>Oh, Hello</i> on Broadway <a href="http://ohhellobroadway.com/">here</a>.nonadult12 Amazing Brownies That Will Make You Droolhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/shadih2/12-amazing-brownies-that-will-blow-your-mind-1z2ak?utm_term=4ldqpia
Oh all the chocolate goodness.

]]>Shadi HasanzadeNematihttps://www.buzzfeed.com/shadih2/12-amazing-brownies-that-will-blow-your-mind-1z2akFri, 09 Dec 2016 20:16:04 -0500Oh all the chocolate goodness.shadih2nonadultAustralia Still Doesn't Have An Official Definition Of Povertyhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/aliceworkman/anti-poverty-groups-send-novelty-size-letter-to-prime-minist?utm_term=4ldqpia
More than 8,000 people and 65 organisations have signed a 3.5 metre high letter to prime minister Malcolm Turnbull calling on the government to do more to fight poverty.

Supplied.

The open letter, which coincides with anti-poverty week, is co-signed by Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie and Australian Aid campaign director Tony Milne.

"It is unacceptable that after 20 years of economic growth, our wealthy nation has not made real progress in reducing poverty," the letter reads.

There are an estimated 2.9 million people, or 13.3% of the population, living below the poverty line in Australia, and child poverty has increased in the last decade, according to Australian Aid.

The letter notes that to date, "no national definition of poverty has been adopted by the government".

"We urge it to adopt the OECD poverty line, set at 50% of median income."

"Even if welfare payments were doubled, recipients would still live in poverty… welfare dependence is poverty," he said. "And the only escape from poverty is a job."

The department of social services told BuzzFeed News there is no national definition of poverty because governments (and usually oppositions) of all political persuasions have "long been at pains to avoid setting any official poverty line or poverty target".

"The reason for this is precisely because poverty is innately multidimensional with complex causes and remedies," a departmental spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.

"Directing policy towards meeting a target for any single measure – especially such a very partial approach as a relative income poverty line – would mean aiming at things that are easy to measure rather than at the things that matter more but are harder to measure – such as opportunity, capability and participation."

The department denies there has been an increase in child poverty in the last decade, saying the "the rate of children living in households 'in poverty' increased modestly from 2003 to 2007, and has fallen slowly since".

“The 3.5 metre letter might be twice the height of the prime minister, but it’s not as long as the list of people here in Australia, and the 836 million people globally, who live in poverty today," Milne told BuzzFeed News.

The Campaign for Australian Aid is a joint initiative of the Make Poverty History and Micah Australia coalitions, which represent more than 65 aid and development organisations, churches, businesses and community groups.

"No Poverty by 2030 is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that the Australian government signed up to in 2015. It is a common goal which applies here in Australia and around the world," Milne said.

"People designed the rules that created the poverty crisis, so we can make different choices and change those rules to reverse it."

"To start tackling the scourge of poverty, the government should increase the unemployment payment in Australia, which currently sits below the poverty line, and increase overseas aid funding from the lowest it has ever been."

Experts say we can get close to eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 if countries co-operate, but while other countries are increasing overseas aid, the Australian government has cut aid to the lowest it's ever been.

The open letter calls for an increase to aid funding towards our global promise of 70 cents in every $100 of our gross national income.

Foreign minister Julie Bishop says the government is committed to delivering "an affordable and effective aid program that reduces poverty and promotes sustainable economic growth, particularly in our immediate region where over 90% of Australia’s foreign aid is now spent".

Bishop told BuzzFeed News that Australia is the 12th largest donor in the OECD and remains committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

]]>Alice Workmanhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/aliceworkman/anti-poverty-groups-send-novelty-size-letter-to-prime-ministFri, 09 Dec 2016 20:01:03 -0500Australia still does not have an official definition of poverty.aliceworkmannonadult
<h1>More than 8,000 people and 65 organisations have signed a 3.5 metre high letter to prime minister Malcolm Turnbull calling on the government to do more to fight poverty.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/5/16/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web11/sub-buzz-31412-1480974077-1.jpg?resize=625:469" width="625" height="469" alt="More than 8,000 people and 65 organisations have signed a 3.5 metre high letter to prime minister Malcolm Turnbull calling on the government to do more to fight poverty." /></p>
<p><small>Supplied.</small></p>
<p>The open letter, which coincides with anti-poverty week, is co-signed by Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie and Australian Aid campaign director Tony Milne.</p><p>"It is unacceptable that after 20 years of economic growth, our wealthy nation has not made real progress in reducing poverty," the letter reads.<br /></p><p>There are an estimated 2.9 million people, or 13.3% of the population, living below the poverty line in Australia, and child poverty has increased in the last decade, according to Australian Aid.</p><p>The letter notes that to date, "no national definition of poverty has been adopted by the government".</p><p>"We urge it to adopt the OECD poverty line, set at 50% of median income."</p>
<h1>Social services minister Christian Porter says raising welfare payments isn't a solution to poverty.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/5/16/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web12/sub-buzz-21012-1480974234-1.jpg" width="625" height="416" alt="Social services minister Christian Porter says raising welfare payments isn't a solution to poverty." /></p>
<p><small>Lukas Coch / AAP</small></p>
<p>"Even if welfare payments were doubled, recipients would still live in poverty&hellip; welfare dependence is poverty," he said. "And the only escape from poverty is a job."<br /></p><p>The department of social services told BuzzFeed News there is no national definition of poverty because governments (and usually oppositions) of all political persuasions have "long been at pains to avoid setting any official poverty line or poverty target".</p><p>"The reason for this is precisely because poverty is innately multidimensional with complex causes and remedies," a departmental spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.</p><p>"Directing policy towards meeting a target for any single measure &ndash; especially such a very partial approach as a relative income poverty line &ndash; would mean aiming at things that are easy to measure rather than at the things that matter more but are harder to measure &ndash; such as opportunity, capability and participation."<br /></p><p>The department denies there has been an increase in child poverty in the last decade, saying the "the rate of children living in households &#39;in poverty&#39; increased modestly from 2003 to 2007, and has fallen slowly since".</p>
<iframe src="/embed/sub/item-ohqix6-2lvml?sb=10112832&cb=1481335383" width="625" height="600" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<h1>“The 3.5 metre letter might be twice the height of the prime minister, but it’s not as long as the list of people here in Australia, and the 836 million people globally, who live in poverty today," Milne told BuzzFeed News.</h1>
<p>The Campaign for Australian Aid is a joint initiative of the Make Poverty History and Micah Australia coalitions, which represent more than 65 aid and development organisations, churches, businesses and community groups.<br /></p><p>"No Poverty by 2030 is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that the Australian government signed up to in 2015. It is a common goal which applies here in Australia and around the world," Milne said.</p><p>"People designed the rules that created the poverty crisis, so we can make different choices and change those rules to reverse it."</p><p>"To start tackling the scourge of poverty, the government should increase the unemployment payment in Australia, which currently sits below the poverty line, and increase overseas aid funding from the lowest it has ever been."</p><p>Experts say we can get close to eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 if countries co-operate, but while other countries are increasing overseas aid, the Australian government has cut aid to the lowest it&#39;s ever been.</p><p>The open letter calls for an increase to aid funding towards our global promise of 70 cents in every $100 of our gross national income.</p>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/3/17/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web12/sub-buzz-1248-1480805748-1.png" width="547" height="164" alt="" /></p>
<p><small>Australian Aid / Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://australianaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/11503_CFAA_SepRet2016_OpenLetter_R3_1.pdf">australianaid.org</a></small></p>
<p>Foreign minister Julie Bishop says the government is committed to delivering "an affordable and effective aid program that reduces poverty and promotes sustainable economic growth, particularly in our immediate region where over 90% of Australia&rsquo;s foreign aid is now spent".</p><p>Bishop told BuzzFeed News that Australia is the 12th largest donor in the OECD and remains committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.</p>
<p><small></small></p>
nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultThis Church-Funded Cafe Is Raising Money For The Anti-Abortion Clinic Next Doorhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/this-church-funded-cafe-is-raising-money-for-the-anti-aborti?utm_term=4ldqpia
Online reviews of Esencia cafe in the NSW border town of Albury praise the "top notch" hot chocolate and "divine cheesecakes", sold to raise funds "for a good cause".

All profits from the cafe go towards supporting the work of the centre, which is located next door to the cafe and offers "free pregnancy testing", "natural family planning information" and counselling to pregnant women.

A crowdfunding page has raised $4,422 since May for the purchase of the ultrasound machine.

The centre asked for donations for the machine, which would allow workers to "offer a woman in crisis the opportunity to see her unborn baby" and "help determine" an approximate due date.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Pieter Mourik is concerned about the credentials, training and expertise of the people conducting the scans.

Pieter Mourik/Words by Wise Man

"It is a lovely cafe but it isn't clear that it is backed by the church and it is just another way of coercing a woman to continue an unwanted pregnancy by increasing her emotional distress," Mourik, who has practiced in reproductive health in Albury for almost four decades, told BuzzFeed News.

The "appalling tactic" is used by anti-abortion lobby groups "around the world", he said.

"It is absolutely scurrilous because it is used to manipulate women to continue an unwanted pregnancy which could be far more dangerous to their lives," he said.

"This violation of women’s medical rights is not supported by the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists."

Local Wodonga gynaecologist Dr John Salmon told BuzzFeed News there would be "many traps" for an untrained ultrasound operator.

"One in six pregnancies turn out to miscarry. However, there is a proper way to convey this emerging news as a scan is performed, and simply being a compassionate volunteer scanner for [an anti-abortion group] does not prepare one for the task," Salmon, who has worked in obstetrics and gynaecology since 1974 and has a diploma in diagnostic ultrasound, said.

The Women's Life Centre's fundraising page says the centre has "taken steps to employ a nurse who is to be trained in the use of ultrasound technology".

Both Evans and Esencia cafe manager Jolleen Suter declined repeated requests for interviews because the cafe and centre were "a bit too busy over the Christmas period", Evans said.

Just 500 metres south of Albury, across the Murray River in Victoria, women seeking abortions no longer have to navigate through protesters outside abortion clinics because the state passed legislation to establish safe access zones of 150 metres late last year.

Liz Marmo/Supplied

Dr Pieter Mourik said a third of the women he sees who are seeking an abortion choose to go across the border to Victoria to avoid anti-abortion protesters outside Albury's Fertility Control Clinic.

]]>Gina Rushtonhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/this-church-funded-cafe-is-raising-money-for-the-anti-abortiFri, 09 Dec 2016 19:46:04 -0500The clinic wants to buy an ultrasound machine so it can "offer a woman in crisis the opportunity to see her unborn baby".ginarushtonnonadult
<h1>Online reviews of Esencia cafe in the NSW border town of Albury praise the <a href="https://web.facebook.com/esenciaalbury/reviews/">"top notch" hot chocolate</a> and <a href="https://www.zomato.com/lavington-nsw/esencia-cafe-1-lavington/reviews">"divine cheesecakes"</a>, sold to raise funds "for a good cause".</h1>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=554171094773097&amp;set=a.520166701506870.1073741828.517964365060437&amp;type=3" target="_blank">View Video &rsaquo;</a></p>
<p><small>Esencia cafe/Facebook / Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=554171094773097&set=a.520166701506870.1073741828.517964365060437&type=3">facebook.com</a></small></p>
<p>But it isn&#39;t clear whether the customers know they are topping up a fund to buy a $30,000 ultrasound machine for the Women&#39;s Life Centre - an organisation <a href="http://abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?abn=85800384551">owned by the Catholic Parish of Holy Spirit Lavington</a> - to scan women with unplanned pregnancies.</p>
<h1>All profits from the cafe <a href="http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4314433/caring-for-women-the-essence-of-quaint-cafe/">go towards supporting the work of the centre</a>, which is located next door to the cafe and offers "free pregnancy testing", "natural family planning information" and counselling to pregnant women.</h1>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WomensLifeCentreAlbury/posts/579902062170463" target="_blank">View Video &rsaquo;</a></p>
<p><small>Women's Life Centre/Facebook / Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/WomensLifeCentreAlbury/posts/579902062170463">Facebook: WomensLifeCentreAlbury</a></small></p>
<p>"Don&rsquo;t live with the regret of an abortion if you don&rsquo;t have to," <a href="http://womenslifecentrealbury.org.au/pregnant-need-help">the centre&#39;s website</a> reads. "You can keep your baby and be very happy&#33;"</p>
<h1>A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/24tajhk5">crowdfunding page</a> has raised $4,422 since May for the purchase of the ultrasound machine.</h1>
<iframe src="https://instagram.com/p/BGx7qH0M37f/embed/" height="710" width="612" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" ></iframe>
<p><small>Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://instagram.com/p/BGx7qH0M37f/#author_womenslifecentrealbury">Instagram: @womenslifecentrealbury</a></small></p>
<p>The centre asked for donations for the machine, which would allow workers to "offer a woman in crisis the opportunity to see her unborn baby" and "help determine" an approximate due date.</p>
<h1>Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Pieter Mourik is concerned about the credentials, training and expertise of the people conducting the scans.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/23/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web03/sub-buzz-11364-1480913326-1.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Pieter Mourik is concerned about the credentials, training and expertise of the people conducting the scans." /></p>
<p><small>Pieter Mourik/Words by Wise Man</small></p>
<p>"It is a lovely cafe but it isn&#39;t clear that it is backed by the church and it is just another way of coercing a woman to continue an unwanted pregnancy by increasing her emotional distress," Mourik, who has practiced in reproductive health in Albury for almost four decades, told BuzzFeed News.<br /></p><p>The "appalling tactic" is used by anti-abortion lobby groups "around the world", he said.</p><p>"It is absolutely scurrilous because it is used to manipulate women to continue an unwanted pregnancy which could be far more dangerous to their lives," he said.</p><p>"This violation of women&rsquo;s medical rights is not supported by the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists."</p><p>Local Wodonga gynaecologist Dr John Salmon told BuzzFeed News there would be "many traps" for an untrained ultrasound operator.</p><p>"One in six pregnancies turn out to miscarry. However, there is a proper way to convey this emerging news as a scan is performed, and simply being a compassionate volunteer scanner for [an anti-abortion group] does not prepare one for the task," Salmon, who has worked in obstetrics and gynaecology since 1974 and has a diploma in diagnostic ultrasound, said.</p><p>The Women&#39;s Life Centre&#39;s fundraising page says the centre has "taken steps to employ a nurse who is to be trained in the use of ultrasound technology".</p>
<h1>The centre's director Peta Evans was a founding member of <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/02/27/3953707.htm">anti-abortion group Helpers of God's Precious Infants</a>, which gathers every Thursday morning outside Albury's Fertility Control Clinic.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/1/19/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web07/sub-buzz-6214-1480637273-2.jpg?resize=625:417" width="625" height="417" alt="The centre's director Peta Evans was a founding member of anti-abortion group Helpers of God's Precious Infants, which gathers every Thursday morning outside Albury's Fertility Control Clinic." /></p>
<p><small>Liz Marmo/Supplied</small></p>
<p>The religious picketers douse "holy water" across the footpath outside the clinic and approach patients to dissuade them from having terminations.<br /><br />"Once [patients have] spoken to us, they realise we are really just there to help," Evans <a href="http://awnw.com.au/local-news/2012-03-08/precious-protest/">told <i>News Weekly</i> in 2012</a>.<br /></p>
<h1>Members of Helpers of God's Precious Infants have also <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/women-are-being-handed-plastic-foetuses-by-protestors-outsid?utm_term=.dmq6PbnPo9#.rk3e3VZ3Lm">handed patients plastic foetal dolls</a>.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/1/19/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web09/sub-buzz-18266-1480637345-5.jpg?resize=720:480" width="720" height="480" alt="Members of Helpers of God's Precious Infants have also handed patients plastic foetal dolls." /></p>
<p><small>Liz Marmo/Supplied</small></p>
<p>Both Evans and Esencia cafe manager Jolleen Suter declined repeated requests for interviews because the cafe and centre were "a bit too busy over the Christmas period", Evans said.</p>
<h1>Just 500 metres south of Albury, across the Murray River in Victoria, women seeking abortions no longer have to navigate through protesters outside abortion clinics because the state passed legislation to establish safe access zones of 150 metres late last year.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/23/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web07/sub-buzz-2624-1480913487-9.jpg?resize=720:480" width="720" height="480" alt="Just 500 metres south of Albury, across the Murray River in Victoria, women seeking abortions no longer have to navigate through protesters outside abortion clinics because the state passed legislation to establish safe access zones of 150 metres late last year." /></p>
<p><small>Liz Marmo/Supplied</small></p>
<p>Dr Pieter Mourik said a third of the women he sees who are seeking an abortion choose to go across the border to Victoria to avoid anti-abortion protesters outside Albury&#39;s Fertility Control Clinic.<br /></p><p>NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/abortion-law-reform-bill-introduced">introduced a bill to both decriminalise abortion</a> in NSW and enact safe access zones across the state.</p><p>NSW Labor MP Penny Sharpe has separately initiated a private member&rsquo;s bill for safe access zones.<br /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultAn Australian Politician Lost His Absolute Shit At A "Simpsons" Meme Pagehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/andrew-laming-not-mad?utm_term=4ldqpia
An Australian politician spent much of his weekend being trolled by members of a Simpsons meme page after he attempted to "mash" them and troll them back.

Federal Liberal National Party politician Andrew Laming embarked on an interesting new social media strategy on Saturday, repeatedly commenting on a Facebook page to prove how not mad he was after a meme mocking one of his recent Facebook comments appeared on the "Simpsons Against the Liberals" Facebook page.

The image, which compared Laming's post to the ramblings of the senile Grandpa Simpson, was noticed by the Liberal MP on Saturday and was the catalyst for an 11-hour commenting spree that featured the politician trolling, countering, arguing, discussing, and insisting he wasn't at all mad with the page's tens of thousands of members.

Here's Laming begging the page's admin to block him because he totally wouldn't be bothered at all if it did happen.

Here he is debating the evolution of language and whether its correct to say "math" or "maths" in Australia.

Here he is absolutely missing a South Park reference while insisting that he was both "a guy and a buddy" to the page's members.

To his credit, Laming did take some time to attempt to discuss his thoughts on education with anyone who would listen.

Laming eventually appeared to use both his verified Facebook page and his personal one to say as much as he could.

And then, when it all seemed to have died down, the "Simpsons Against the Liberals" members began making their own new, Laming-inspired memes.

Then someone went and discovered a guide Laming wrote in 2011, warning other politicians about getting into social media wars.

“The key thing to note in terms of dealing with constituents is when they are handled carefully and respectfully the negative behaviour almost never continues," he said.

The guide came after a 2010 online war Laming got into on his local paper's Facebook page. Yes, you read that correctly, and yes, it is bizarre.

Now, two days after the mayhem, Laming and some of the members of the "Simpsons Against the Liberals" page have decided among themselves that the topic is well and truly dead.

But at the time of publication, the memes were still flowing...

... And even Laming has offered some insight into why he won't let it go.

Want more proof that Australia is the craziest place on earth? Sign up for BuzzFeed's "Meanwhile in Australia" newsletter!

If you can't see the signup box above, just go here to sign up for BuzzFeed's "Meanwhile in Australia" newsletter!

]]>Brad Espositohttps://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/andrew-laming-not-madFri, 09 Dec 2016 19:31:03 -0500Old man yells at meme.bradespositononadult
<h2>An Australian politician spent much of his weekend being trolled by members of a <i>Simpsons</i> meme page after he attempted to "mash" them and troll them back.</h2>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/22/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web09/sub-buzz-10437-1480906936-1.jpg" width="510" height="288" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<h2>Federal Liberal National Party politician Andrew Laming embarked on an interesting new social media strategy on Saturday, repeatedly commenting on a Facebook page to prove how not mad he was after a meme mocking one of his recent Facebook comments appeared on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Simpsonsagainsttheliberals/?fref=ts">"Simpsons Against the Liberals"</a> Facebook page.</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Simpsonsagainsttheliberals/posts/1858556524364752" target="_blank">View Video &rsaquo;</a></p>
<p><small><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/Simpsonsagainsttheliberals/posts/1858556524364752">Facebook: Simpsonsagainsttheliberals</a></small></p>
<h1>The image, which compared Laming's post to the ramblings of the senile Grandpa Simpson, was noticed by the Liberal MP on Saturday and was the catalyst for an 11-hour commenting spree that featured the politician trolling, countering, arguing, discussing, and insisting he wasn't at all mad with the page's tens of thousands of members.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static" width="" height="" alt="The image, which compared Laming's post to the ramblings of the senile Grandpa Simpson, was noticed by the Liberal MP on Saturday and was the catalyst for an 11-hour commenting spree that featured the politician trolling, countering, arguing, discussing, and insisting he wasn't at all mad with the page's tens of thousands of members." /></p>
<h1>Here's Laming begging the page's admin to block him because he totally wouldn't be bothered at all if it did happen.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web06/sub-buzz-6245-1480904972-1.png" width="676" height="719" alt="Here's Laming begging the page's admin to block him because he totally wouldn't be bothered at all if it did happen." /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<h1>Here he is debating the evolution of language and whether its correct to say "math" or "maths" in Australia.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web13/sub-buzz-6512-1480905150-1.png?resize=625:473" width="625" height="473" alt="Here he is debating the evolution of language and whether its correct to say &quot;math&quot; or &quot;maths&quot; in Australia." /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<h1>Here he is absolutely missing a <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuQK6t2Esng">South Park</a></i> reference while insisting that he was both "a guy and a buddy" to the page's members.</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web01/sub-buzz-27937-1480905286-1.png?resize=720:534" width="720" height="534" alt="Here he is absolutely missing a South Park reference while insisting that he was both &quot;a guy and a buddy&quot; to the page's members." /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<h2>To his credit, Laming did take some time to attempt to discuss his thoughts on education with anyone who would listen.</h2>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web01/sub-buzz-28041-1480905686-2.png?resize=720:483" width="720" height="483" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web05/sub-buzz-12447-1480905764-1.png" width="718" height="673" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<h2>Laming eventually appeared to use both his verified Facebook page and his personal one to say as much as he could.</h2>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web14/sub-buzz-2372-1480905849-1.png" width="717" height="673" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<h2>And then, when it all seemed to have died down, the "Simpsons Against the Liberals" members began making their own new, Laming-inspired memes.</h2>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web15/sub-buzz-8168-1480906063-1.jpg" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web09/sub-buzz-9836-1480906160-1.jpg" width="663" height="474" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/21/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web07/sub-buzz-30498-1480906340-1.png" width="622" height="460" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<h2>Then someone went and <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/technology/mp-warns-of-social-media-missteps-20110223-1b5ft.html">discovered a guide</a> Laming wrote in 2011, warning other politicians about getting into social media wars.</h2><p>&ldquo;The key thing to note in terms of dealing with constituents is when they are handled carefully and respectfully the negative behaviour almost never continues," he said.<br /></p><p>The guide <a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/mp-enters-online-trolling-war-20100927-15thk.html">came after</a> a 2010 online war Laming got into on his local paper&#39;s Facebook page. Yes, you read that correctly, and yes, it is bizarre.</p><h2>Now, two days after the mayhem, Laming and some of the members of the "Simpsons Against the Liberals" page have decided among themselves that the topic is well and truly dead.</h2>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/22/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web03/sub-buzz-7468-1480907341-1.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="" /></p>
<p><small>Facebook / Fox</small></p>
<h2>But at the time of publication, the memes were still flowing...</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Simpsonsagainsttheliberals/posts/1860412970845774" target="_blank">View Video &rsaquo;</a></p>
<p><small><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/Simpsonsagainsttheliberals/posts/1860412970845774">Facebook: Simpsonsagainsttheliberals</a></small></p>
<h2>... And even Laming has offered some insight into why he won&#39;t let it go.</h2>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-12/4/22/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web07/sub-buzz-31501-1480907478-1.png" width="451" height="113" alt="" /></p>
<p><small></small></p>
<p><br /></p>
<iframe src="/embed/sub/item-ohpzdg-k4lh?sb=10108419&cb=1481335383" width="1" height="1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<h1>Want more proof that Australia is the craziest place on earth? Sign up for BuzzFeed's "Meanwhile in Australia" newsletter!</h1>
<p>If you can&#39;t see the signup box above, just <a href="http://newsletters.buzzfeed.com/h/t/8BDD35125390BE86">go here to sign up</a> for BuzzFeed&#39;s "Meanwhile in Australia" newsletter&#33;</p>
<p><small></small></p>
nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult<p><br /></p>nonadultThis Little Girl Was Asked To Dress As An "Indian" For School And Had The Best Ideahttps://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/nyemah-greenhouse?utm_term=4ldqpia
Nyemah Greenhouse, from Louisiana, decided to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline instead.

Supplied

Standing Rock reservation, in North Dakota, became a site of protest this year after hundreds of people gathered to attempt to stop the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would cut through the reservation.

On Sunday evening, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced it would no longer be allowing the oil pipeline to cross under a lake near the reservation.

]]>Brad Espositohttps://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/nyemah-greenhouseFri, 09 Dec 2016 19:16:04 -0500Nyemah Greenhouse, from Louisiana, decided to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline instead.bradespositononadultAs a kindergarten student, Nyemah is beginning to get used to the idea of assignments. Her mother, Tremeka, told BuzzFeed News her daughter was very proud of her school.nonadultnonadultnonadultOn Sunday evening, the US Army Corps of Engineers <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/dakota-access-pipeline-decision?utm_term=.xi41PXoKk#.eowvyEKPG">announced</a> it would no longer be allowing the oil pipeline to cross under a lake near the reservation.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult16 Totally Free Apps You Need Before You Go Travellinghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jemimaskelley/bon-voyage?utm_term=4ldqpia
There’s more to life than Apple Maps.

TripIt syncs all the flight/hotel/transport booking information from your email into one master itinerary list, so all your plans are in one, easy-to-access place. It's also available offline for when you're in remote, no-Wi-Fi places.

Whether you prefer Viber, WhatsApp, or just Messenger, an internet-based messaging app is essential while travelling. If you need to keep in contact with people, but don't want to buy a SIM, you can use these apps to send messages, photos, and make voice calls.

]]>Jemima Skelleyhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jemimaskelley/bon-voyageFri, 09 Dec 2016 19:01:03 -0500There's more to life than Apple Maps.jemimaskelleynonadultTripIt syncs all the flight/hotel/transport booking information from your email into one master itinerary list, so all your plans are in one, easy-to-access place. It's also available offline for when you're in remote, no-Wi-Fi places.nonadultWhether you prefer <a href="http://www.viber.com/en/">Viber</a>, WhatsApp, or just <a href="https://www.messenger.com/">Messenger</a>, an internet-based messaging app is essential while travelling. If you need to keep in contact with people, but don't want to buy a SIM, you can use these apps to send messages, photos, and make voice calls.nonadultRome2Rio is essentially a trip planner, which will tell you how to get from point A to point B, anywhere in the world. It searches planes, trains, buses, ferries, and driving options to give you the shortest trip, and the cheapest trip. There's also a web version <a href="https://www.rome2rio.com/">here</a>.nonadultWhile apps like Yelp and UrbanSpoon can find highly-rated restaurants near you, this app lets you search by dish. If you've got a big craving for spaghetti bolognese, but have no idea where to find it, this app will let you know. It's based on user submissions, so you'll obviously get better results in big cities than random towns in the middle of nowhere.nonadultIt's just like the Google Maps we all know and love, but you can access them offline. Just download the city, town, or country that you need, and you'll be able to see them in full resolution, without an internet connection. And while it sounds like it'll take up a lot of memory on your phone, a whole country is only around 100MB.nonadultThis is more of an app you'd use in the lead-up to your trip. You can use it to either learn a basic level of a new language, or you can use it to brush up on your almost-forgotten high school French skills.nonadultYou can translate words in Google, just by typing "what is dog in spanish" into the search bar. The mobile app is even better though, with 52 languages available offline. You can also use your camera to take photos of text that you need translated.nonadultWhile this isn't exactly a travel necessity, Inquire is great if you want to know a bit more about the areas you're visiting. The app will link you to a bunch of Wikipedia pages, based on wherever you are in the world. They can be anything from local landmarks, tourist attractions, historical information, or random facts. It will also curate trending topics so you can read up on what's happening in the area.nonadultIf you're planning a trip around Europe, you need this app. It'll give you timetables for every train line across the continent, and information on how to get from one city to another.nonadultHere WeGo is perfect when you're visiting a big city. It'll help you navigate your way around without getting lost, with options for walking, driving, train, bus, and bike. You can download certain maps to use offline.nonadultTell the app where you want to fly to, and you'll be given tips on the best time to buy for a cheap ticket. It'll also alert you to deals and what times of the year is best to fly for cheaper. You can book tickets straight from the app, though a few users have commented that you can often find cheaper flights on <a href="https://www.skyscanner.com.au/">SkyScanner</a>. Just use Hopper for the inside intel on when to book.nonadultYou know that feeling when you're in a foreign country, you're busting for the toilet, but there's not a Starbucks in sight? Well, this app will help you locate the nearest public toilet. That's it. Easy.nonadultThis app will give you up-to-date exchange rates for literally every currency in the world. You can store the latest rates when you have Wi-Fi and then use it offline while you're on the go.nonadultWhether you need an ATM, a petrol station, a cinema, or a taxi rank, this app will help you find one close by. You need internet to use it, so it'd be perfect in a big city with Wi-Fi hotspots.nonadultThis simple app basically just rounds up cheap last-minute flight and hotel deals, for whichever destination you choose. There's also a desktop <a href="https://skiplagged.com/">version</a> if that's more your thing.nonadultThis is a great app if you're planning to stay in hostels. It'll give you a run-down of all the hostels in a certain city, listing their amenities and room types. The best part is the user reviews, so you can make sure you're not going to be staying in a bedbug's haven with dirty toilets.nonadult23 Things That Made Aussies Mutter "Oh, Get Fucked" In 2016https://www.buzzfeed.com/michellerennex/23-things-that-made-aussies-mutter-oh-get-fucked-in-2016?utm_term=4ldqpia
Could you maybe just stop fucking deconstructing everything?

This chick who couldn't just take a photo under the fucking jacarandas like a normal person.

Earlier in the week a photo of a Jollibee worker began circulating, with people noticing that she looks incredibly like Chloë Grace Moretz.

]]>Mat Whiteheadhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/matwhitehead/same-chloe-face-moretzFri, 09 Dec 2016 18:31:03 -0500"Whoa whoa" – Chloë Grace Moretz, 2016matwhiteheadnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult13 Crazy Things That Made All Aussies Freak Out About Their Own Country In 2016https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/13-crazy-things-that-made-all-aussies-freak-out-about-their?utm_term=4ldqpia
Spiders and sharks and snakes everywhere.

When a man from Mackay, Queensland, filmed a huge spider eating an entire mouse on his fridge.

The video ended up receiving more than 22 million views, as people from all over the world witnessed the insane shit Aussies live with every day.

"The spider will inject the venom, and slowly, as the venom takes effect, it will do what every single spider species does, and that’s liquify the inside of the prey and then basically slurp the insides of the animal… physically drink it," Taronga Zoo keeper Phil Patterson told BuzzFeed News.

When two huge snakes fought each other in a woman's pool so they could mate with a female snake that was living underneath the woman's house.

When people kept finding incredibly venomous redback spiders on their store-bought broccoli.

]]>Brad Espositohttps://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/13-crazy-things-that-made-all-aussies-freak-out-about-theirFri, 09 Dec 2016 18:16:04 -0500Spiders and sharks and snakes everywhere.bradespositononadultThe video ended up receiving more than 22 million views, as people from all over the world witnessed the insane shit Aussies live with every day.
"The spider will inject the venom, and slowly, as the venom takes effect, it will do what every single spider species does, and that’s liquify the inside of the prey and then basically slurp the insides of the animal… physically drink it," Taronga Zoo keeper Phil Patterson told BuzzFeed News.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultTake This Quiz To Find Out What Happens To You This Summerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/tahliapritchard/summer-of-fun?utm_term=4ldqpia
Are you in for a summer of fun?

]]>Tahlia Pritchardhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/tahliapritchard/summer-of-funFri, 09 Dec 2016 18:01:03 -0500Are you in for a summer of fun?tahliapritchardnonadultnonadultThis Town In Malaysia Has The Prettiest Windows You'll Ever Seehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/annamendoza/if-its-pretty-take-a-picture?utm_term=4ldqpia

All photos by Anna Mendoza / BuzzFeed

Travellers visiting Penang in Malaysia have long marveled at the unique colonial architecture still in existence. The island off the western coast of the Malay Peninsula has the most pre-war structures in Southeast Asia. Along with Malacca, Singapore, and Dinding, Penang was part of the Straits Settlements, a group of British territories established in 1826. Their presence on the island, mixed with Chinese, Indian, and Islamic influences, are still evident in the building designs seen today.

In 2000, UNESCO listed Penang's capital, George Town, as a world heritage site. This ensured the preservation and upkeep of the buildings and has drawn visitors fascinated by the quaint and quirky facades. Of the many that survived time, here are 29 interesting window designs around town.

This natural body scrub which will leave you smelling like strawberries and coconut.

]]>Jemima Skelleyhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jemimaskelley/eco-giftsFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:31:04 -0500Reduce, reuse, regift.jemimaskelleynonadult<i>All prices in this post are quoted in Australian dollars.</i>nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.bambeco.com/Herbs-and-Spices/Bambeco-Mini-Farmer's-DIY-Cheese-Kit.asp">$20</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/220345499/bo-arrow-strawberry-sugar-scrub-coconut?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=natural%20sugar%20scrub&amp;ref=sr_gallery_3">$12</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/240719865/vanilla-chai-latte-tub-tea-bath-soak-all?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=natural%20salt%20soak&amp;ref=sr_gallery_17">$7</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.ecobella.com.au/the-romantic-elegant-gold-and-cream-paper-bead-necklace/">$35</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.kitchenwaresuperstore.com.au/s-well-insulated-stainless-steel-bottle-satin-monaco-blue-500ml.html">$46.95</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/465244312/reusable-paper-towel-washable-kitchen?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=reusable&amp;ref=sr_gallery_12">$15.95</a>.nonadultYou can also get 2017 diaries, sketchbooks, and photo albums. Get it here for <a href="http://www.reboundbooks.com/collections/blank-journals/products/hurrah-for-the-circus-enid-blyton">$30</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/271581947/cow-tote-bag-calico-shopping-bag-gift?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=shopping%20bag&amp;ref=sr_gallery_1">$20.</a>nonadultGet five for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/425955250/reusable-produce-bags?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=reusable&amp;ref=sr_gallery_4">$20</a> here.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/155341496/fabric-paper-bag-reusable-snack-sack?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=reusable&amp;ref=sr_gallery_36">$38.50</a>.nonadultDesign your own colours, or check out the new Star Wars <a href="https://au.keepcup.com/keepcup-series/star-wars-series.html">range</a>. Starting from <a href="https://au.keepcup.com/design-your-own/design-your-own.html#Plug=chartreuse-green&amp;Lid=mint&amp;Band=blue-sky&amp;Cup=green-jade&amp;size=six">$11</a>.nonadultGet a two-pack here for <a href="http://www.honeybeewrap.com.au/collections/all/products/small-leftovers-wrap">$14</a>.nonadultAs an added bonus, 30% of the sale price of this product will be donated to Plan’s Because I Am a Girl <a href="https://www.plan.org.au/becauseiamagirl">campaign</a>. Get them here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/248095448/confetti-pyramid-soap-makeforgood?ref=shop_home_feat_3">$12</a> each.nonadultCheck out the selection here, starting from about <a href="http://www.organicwine.com.au/">$13</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.conscious-candle.com.au/">$16.99</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.whodhavethought.com/collections/sprout-pencils/products/sustainable-sprout-pencils-single">$4.50</a> each, or <a href="https://www.whodhavethought.com/collections/sprout-pencils/products/sustainable-sprout-pencils-trio">$14.95</a> for a three-pack.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.t2tea.com/en/nz/teawares/t2-teaset-glass-aqua-teamug-D158.html?dwvar_D158_color=Pink">$30</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/461648712/natural-bamboo-amplifier-for-iphone?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=bamboo%20speaker&amp;ref=sr_gallery_7">$8</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Sustainable-Cookbook-Australian-Womens-Weekly/9781742457154?ref=grid-view">$32.98</a>.nonadult16 Awesome Gifts That Cost Less Than $20https://www.buzzfeed.com/gyanyankovich/secret-santa-shopping?utm_term=4ldqpia
Secret Santa, sorted.

This light box for your bestie who can never quite manage to get their shit together.

]]>Gyan Yankovichhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/gyanyankovich/secret-santa-shoppingFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:16:05 -0500Secret Santa, sorted.gyanyankovichnonadult<i>All prices in this post are listed in Australian dollars.</i>nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/message-in-a-tea-cup/9344943973481.html?region=AU">$14.99</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/product/swappable-slide-light-box/1060308">$19</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/475311721/2-pcs-leather-earphone-holder-custom?ref=finds_l">$14</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.target.com.au/p/lisa-t-celebrate-decorative-plate/59578932">$15</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/zodiac-candle/9350486075643.html?region=AU">$19.99</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/product/marble-bread-board-and-bowl/1027887">$15</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.hardtofind.com.au/86551_iconic-aussie-faves-magnets">$20</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.yellowoctopus.com.au/yay-lunch-lunch-box-happy-jackson">$13.99</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.sunnylife.com.au/products/beach-pillow-balandra">$16.95</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/127765293/soap-sticks?ref=finds_l">$15</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.sunnylife.com.au/products/ice-cream-popsicle-moulds-ss17">$19.95</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/punnet-container/9344943770615.html?region=AU#prefn1=countrySpecificMarkets&amp;srule=price-ascending&amp;pmin=0&amp;sz=48&amp;start=337&amp;prefv1=AU&amp;region=AU">$14.99</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.kikki-k.com/cup-saucer-quote-svenska-hem">$16.95</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/glitter-globe-rose-gold-all">$19.95</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/neoprene-lunch-bag/9350486435737.html?region=AU">$19.99</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/glow-in-the-dark-ping-pong/2013714800987.html?region=AU#region=AU&amp;q=ping+pong&amp;start=1">$14.99</a>.nonadult17 Gift Ideas From Typo For That Person Who's Always Hard To Buy Forhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/tahliapritchard/teaquila?utm_term=4ldqpia
Need something in a hurry for your Secret Santa?

This takeaway mug.

This ideal gift for your work friend who likes to indulge from time-to-time.

]]>Tahlia Pritchardhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/tahliapritchard/teaquilaFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:01:05 -0500Need something in a hurry for your Secret Santa?tahliapritchardnonadult<i>All items in this post are listed in Australian dollars.</i>nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/cotton-on-women/the-round-towel/2024662129990.html?region=AU#q=towel&amp;prefn1=brand&amp;prefn2=countrySpecificMarkets&amp;pmin=0&amp;prefv1=Typo%7CCO+Home%7CCotton+On+Home%7CCotton+On+Women&amp;prefv2=AU&amp;region=AU&amp;start=1">here</a> for $34.95.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/take-away-mug/9344943775184.html?region=AU#prefn1=countrySpecificMarkets&amp;pmin=0&amp;sz=48&amp;start=193&amp;prefv1=AU&amp;region=AU">here</a> for $14.99.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/tea-drinker-gift-set/9344943975645.html?region=AU">here</a>. Starting from $19.99.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/flask-mug/2013718201988.html?region=AU">here</a> for $19.99.nonadultIt's currently sold out online, but in-store price is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BM5xYpCDZm9/">$49.99</a>.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/wood-block-lamp/2013737202980.html?region=AU#region=AU&amp;q=lamp&amp;start=1">here</a> for $35.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/luxe-quote-candle/9344943952301.html?region=AU">here</a> for $19.99.nonadultBrowse the varieties <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/search/?region=AU&amp;q=pillow">here</a>. Starting at $19.99.nonadultBuy them <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/transparent-phone-cover-6/9344943720016.html?region=AU#region=AU&amp;q=phone+cover&amp;start=1">here</a> for $12.99 each.nonadultMousepad: <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/mouse-pad/2013700908987.html?region=AU">$9.99</a>
Tote bag: <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/printed-tote/9350486086212.html?region=AU">$19.99</a>
Browse other assorted pug gifts <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/search/?region=AU&amp;q=pug">here</a>.nonadultBuy a pair <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/mens-novelty-socks/9344943137432.html?region=AU#region=AU&amp;q=socks&amp;start=1">here</a>. Starting from $9.99.nonadultBrowse <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/2017-a5-daily-buffalo-diary/9344943765147.html?region=AU#region=AU&amp;start=1">here</a>. Prices from $19.99.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/archer-pencil-case/9350486073458.html?region=AU#region=AU&amp;q=pizza&amp;start=1">here</a> for $9.99.nonadultBuy different variations <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/canvas-travel-pouch/9344943616302.html?region=AU#q=travel&amp;prefn1=countrySpecificMarkets&amp;pmin=0&amp;sz=48&amp;start=241&amp;prefv1=AU&amp;region=AU">here</a> for $14.99.nonadultBuy them <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/novelty-headphones/9344943171870.html?region=AU#region=AU&amp;q=headphones&amp;start=1">here</a> for $29.99.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/what-a-corker/9350486181313.html?region=AU">here</a> for $39.99.nonadultBuy it <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/hang-around-photo-hanger/2013747000989.html?region=AU">here</a> for $14.99.nonadult17 Really Good Gifts That Won't Cost You More Than $10https://www.buzzfeed.com/gyanyankovich/cheap-and-cheerful?utm_term=4ldqpia
Cheap + thoughtful = bloody perfect.

]]>Gyan Yankovichhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/gyanyankovich/cheap-and-cheerfulFri, 09 Dec 2016 16:46:04 -0500Cheap + thoughtful = bloody perfect.gyanyankovichnonadult<i>All prices in this post are listed in Australian dollars.</i>nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/256243013/seinfeld-sticker-pack-set-of-7-vinyl?ref=shop_home_feat_2">$6</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/product/3-pack-inflatable-drink-holders---assorted/1089369">$5</a>.nonadultGet one here for <a href="https://au.lush.com/products/christmas/snowie">$8.95</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/product/hexagon-shadow-box---brown/807807">$9</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/248680568/ombre-plant-hanger-cotton-rope-natural?ref=shop_home_active_8">$8</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.yellowoctopus.com.au/too-cold-to-hold-drink-sleeve-bando">$9.99</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/coloured-wooden-symbol/9350486077319.html?region=AU">$4.99</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/enamel-badges/9350486309274.html?region=AU">$6.99</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/product/led-twinkle-lights---3m/765061">$5</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/270571158/hanging-plants-watercolour-painted?ref=shop_home_active_24">$4</a>.nonadultGet them here for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/385904420/wooden-sleepy-eyes-for-nursery-girls-or?ref=shop_home_active_15">$10</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/product/inflatable-crown/1071309">$5</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="https://www.target.com.au/p/lisa-t-placemat-seconds/59579281">$6</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/accessories/phone-accessories/colourful-pinata-phone-case-5-multi-all">$9.95</a>.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://cottonon.com/AU/p/typo/enamel-keyring/9350486558573.html?region=AU">$6.99</a>.nonadultGet three for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/267729239/concrete-diamonds-concrete-decor-pastel?ref=shop_home_active_31">$7</a> here.nonadultGet it here for <a href="http://www.asos.com/au/sass-belle/sass-belle-you-are-awesome-jewellery-dish/prd/6199962?iid=6199962&amp;clr=Multi&amp;cid=18397&amp;pgesize=36&amp;pge=0&amp;totalstyles=109&amp;gridsize=3&amp;gridrow=6&amp;gridcolumn=2">$10</a>.nonadult24 Of The Funniest Tweets About Australia In 2016https://www.buzzfeed.com/jemimaskelley/tweets?utm_term=4ldqpia
“Fantastic news: Apple Maps recognises ‘bottleo’.”

Did you learn nothing, even after Brexit?

Do you now regret everything?

Have you guys forgiven Florida yet?

]]>Tahlia Pritchardhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/tahliapritchard/r-u-okFri, 09 Dec 2016 16:16:04 -0500You have a lot of explaining to do America.tahliapritchardnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultI'm not mad America, I'm just worried.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultWhat on earth were in your nuggets before?!nonadultNo offense guys, but it's kinda your fault if you thought a big ol' burrito only had 300 calories.nonadultJust don't arrive by boat.nonadultnonadult